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New Grad Nurse (RN) Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

You chose a career that keeps you on your toes and saves lives. But how will the HR team know you’re worth your clipboard? Show them with your new grad nurse resume.

Tom Gerencer, CPRW
Career Writer at ResumeLab
New Grad Nurse (RN) Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

This new grad nursing resume example can shock your career to life. But—there are over 200,000 new nurses every year.

They want the same jobs you do. To get noticed in that mob, you need a Theresa-Brown-level resume for new nursing graduates.

You can do it, with the right focus on your schooling and clinical experience. Below, you'll find out how.

In this guide:

  • New grad nurse resume examples better than most.
  • How to write a new nurse resume that lands interviews.
  • How to custom-craft your new grad nursing job description.
  • Why you can’t just list new grad nursing skills (and what to do instead).

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Are you looking for something similar to the new grand nurse resume? See other guides for nurses: 

Alternatively, look through these examples for health-related jobs: 

Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our Resume Examples for Any Job.

Sample New Grad Nurse (RN) Resume You Can Copy and Use

Molly Michaud

RN

Personal Info

Phone: 757-944-3536

Email: mollyzmichaud@gmail.com

linkedin.com/in/mollyzmichaud

twitter.com/mollyzmichaud

Summary

Licensed RN with 2+ years of precept nurse experience. Eager to deliver high-level care at APMC. At Richmond Medical Center, was scored at 97% for patient education and wound-dressing by preceptor. Completed assigned tasks 10% ahead of schedule.

License & Certifications

  • Registered Nurse, Virginia Board of Nursing, License #00000000
  • Certified Patient Care Technician
  • Basic Life Support

Education

Bachelor of Science, Nursing

University of Virginia

2015–2019

  • Excelled in patient education coursework.
  • Worked as teacher's assistant in wound dressing classes.
  • Member, Student Nursing Association.

Clinical Experience

Precept Nurse 

Richmond Medical Center

2018–2019

  • Provided care and assisted with creation of plan of care in general 35-bed inpatient ward.
  • Collected patient information and communicated results to preceptor. Used collected data to assist preceptor in creating plan of care.
  • Established track record for efficiency, completing assigned tasks 10% ahead of schedule with 90%+ accuracy as judged by preceptor.
  • Performed medical procedures including IV insertion, intradermal injections, blood pressure assessments, and wound care.

Key Achievement

  • Rated at 97% by preceptor for wound-dressing and patient education.

Precept Nurse

Alexandria Medical Clinic

2017–2018

  • Facilitated mobilization of patients to minimize falls and skin breakdown. Achieved 10% lower bedsore rate than clinic average.
  • Scored 100% in HIPAA compliance.
  • Sterilized instruments with 99% scores in spot checks by preceptor.
  • Recorded vital signs of 5+ patients per day.

Additional Activities 

  • Volunteer educator, American Red Cross.
  • My article on catheterization was published in The Nursing Show.
  • Weekly yoga for fitness & self-care.

Hard Skills: wound dressing, patient education, IV insertion, medication administration

Soft Skills: interpersonal skills, teamwork, communication, problem solving

Here’s how to write a healthy new grad nurse resume:

1. Choose the Best New Grad Nurse Resume Format

Which new grad nurse resume format is right? Easy choice.

Select the reverse-chronological format for resumes. It shows off your Cleveland-Clinic-worthy achievements first.

Use these resume format tips:

New Grad Nurse Resume Format

  • Create a one–page resume for new grad nursing jobs.
  • Make 1-inch margins.
  • Pick a resume font like 11–14pt Cambria or Arial.
  • For max readability, add some white space.
  • Make resume sections for Heading, Summary, Experience, Education, and Skills.

Expert Hint: Save your work as a PDF resume so it works on all devices. A new grad RN resume in PDF form won’t confuse the ATS, and hiring teams love them.

2. Write a New Grad Nurse Resume Objective

The facts: The charge nurse will skim your new grad nurse resume.

If it doesn’t grab her, she’ll toss it. So—make your first paragraph sparkle like Meredith Grey.

Do that with a career objective.

Add:

  1. An adjective (licensed, energetic)
  2. “RN”
  3. What you’ll do and for whom (deliver high-level care at APMC)
  4. Best resume achievements(scored 97% for patient education)

See these new grad nursing resume examples:

New Grad Nurse Resume Objective—Example

Good Example
Licensed RN with 2+ years of precept nurse experience. Eager to deliver high-level care at APMC. At Richmond Medical Center, was scored at 97% for patient education and wound-dressing by preceptor. Completed assigned tasks 10% ahead of schedule.
Bad Example
Newly-licensed nursing job candidate, skilled in wound dressing and patient education. A a speedy worker who finishes assigned tasks quickly. Can perform all nursing tasks, including taking patient vital signs and assisting with discharge.

Diagnosis?

The second of those new grad nursing resumes samples just says what you can do.

The first shows you’ve done it—fast and well.

Your precept nurse experience counts as real experience in a new grad nurse resume. Don’t waste it!

Expert Hint: Write your new grad RN resume objective last. You’ll have an easy time summarizing your resume when you’ve got the finished copy at your fingertips.

3. Give Your Education Section a Fighting Chance

How should you list education in a new grad nurse resume? That’s easy.

Show your degree and the name of your school. But—to wow the charge nurse, put skills in your resume education section.

See this new grad nursing resume sample:

New Grad Nurse Resume Example—Education

Good Example

Education

Bachelor of Science, Nursing

University of Virginia

2015–2019

  • Excelled in patient education coursework.
  • Worked as teacher's assistant in wound dressing classes.
  • Member, Student Nursing Association.

First rate.

You just added patient education and wound dressing to your new grad RN resume.

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4. Show Clinical Experience and Skills in a New Grad RN Resume

What skills function in a nursing resume for new grads?

Here are sample skills to put on a resume:

New Grad Nurse Resume Skills

  • Efficiency
  • Documentation
  • Medicine Administration
  • Wound Dressing
  • Patient Education
  • Budgeting
  • Patient Transport
  • Phlebotomy
  • Electronic Health Records (EHR)
  • Recording Vital Signs
  • Creating Plan of Care
  • Time Management
  • Attention to Detail
  • Active Listening
  • Compassion
  • Problem Solving
  • Teamwork
  • Physical Stamina
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Communication

Caution—

Don’t pump them all into a new grad nurse resume.

Only a tailored resume will get you hired. So, pluck resume keywords from the nursing job description.

These new grad nursing resume samples show how:

The job wants skills in collecting patient information, efficiency, IV insertion, and wound dressing.

New Graduate Nurse Job Description for a Resume [Sample]

Good Example

Clinical Experience

Precept Nurse

Richmond Medical Center

2018–2019

  • Provided care and assisted with creation of plan of care in general 35-bed inpatient ward.
  • Collected patient information and communicated results to preceptor. Used collected data to assist preceptor in creating plan of care.
  • Established track record for efficiency, completing assigned tasks 10% ahead of schedule with 90%+ accuracy as judged by preceptor.
  • Performed medical procedures including IV insertion, intradermal injections, blood pressure assessments, and wound care.

Key Achievement:

  • Rated at 97% by preceptor for wound dressing and patient education.
Bad Example
  • Provided patient care daily in busy hospital.
  • Administered medications using various routes.
  • Kept physicians informed about changes in the condition of patients.
  • Performed patient education as needed and requested, per hospital guidelines.
  • Participated in project to improve ICU procedures and guidelines.

No contest.

With the second of those ICU nursing resume examples, you’re circling the drain. But—

The first is skin-glued to the job ad.

Expert Hint: A peer-reviewed study found that clinical nursing simulations were no substitute for real experience. If you’ve volunteered or worked an internship, show that in your new grad nursing resume.

5. Add Bonus Sections to Your New Grad RN Resume

More than 200,000 new nurses graduate from school each year.

Your new grad nurse resume has to outshine them all.

So—add extras to your new grad rn resume.

Choose from:

See these new grad nursing resume examples:

New Grad RN Resume—Other Sections

Good Example

License & Certifications

  • Registered Nurse, Virginia Board of Nursing, License #00000000
  • Certified Patient Care Technician
  • Basic Life Support

Additional Activities 

  • Volunteer educator, American Red Cross.
  • My article on catheterization was published in The Nursing Show.
  • Weekly yoga for fitness & self-care.
Bad Example
  • Making sauerkraut
  • Singing

Hmm.

What’s wrong with making sauerkraut or singing? Nothing! But they don’t prove RN skills.

The first of those new grad nursing resume samples shows you can take the heat.

Expert Hint: Write a cover letter for your nursing new grad resume. Show off your love of nursing and your best few nursing high points that make you a great choice.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

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Key Points

Here’s how to write a new grad nursing resume:

  • Start with a new grad nursing resume template. Infuse it with your top new grad nursing moments.
  • Add new grad nursing skills like wound dressing or patient education. Put a few numbers in to measure your results.
  • Write a new graduate nurse resume objective as a snapshot of the best reasons to hire you.
  • Add extra sections to list your license or an ANA membership.
  • Don't forget to write a new grad RN cover letter

Got questions on how to write good resumes for new grad nursing jobs? Want to see more new grad nurse resume examples? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!

About ResumeLab’s Editorial Process

At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines, ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets. Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.

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Tom Gerencer, CPRW
Having published over 200 career-advice articles, Tom Gerencer is a career expert who covers the whole array of job-seeking topics for people at all career stages, from interns to C-suite members. His insights, commentary, and articles reach over a million readers every month. With inside knowledge of key industry players and in-depth research, Tom helps job seekers with advice across all professions and career stages. Tom holds a degree in English from Colby College.

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